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UNITED sTATEs PATENT EEroE.

HENRY S. STELLWAGEN, OF THE UNITED STATES NAVY.

SOUNDING INSTRUMENT.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 2,899, dated December 31, 1842.

T0 all whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY S. STELL- wAGEN, a lieutenant in the United States Navy, have invented a new and useful machine for the purpose of bringing up specimens of the bottom at sea forthe uses of marine surveying and navigation generally, to be called the Gedney coast survey sounding apparatus and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact 'description of the construct-ion and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making'a part of this specication, in which letters A and B represent the whole machine attached to an ordinary or any deep-sea'sounding lead.

B, Figure 3, represents the lead with machine attached, sinking. The valves are opened by the resistance of the water and the cup or inverte-d cone is forced into the sand, &c., at bottom of the sea or water Vand withdrawn full of the sand. See Fig. 3.

B, Fig. l, shows the lead and apparatus ascending. The valves are shut down on the edge of the cup by theresistance of the water in ascending and retain what it has scooped up from the bottom after being sunk intov the sand or mud. See Fig. l.

C, in Fig. 2, is the stem or shaft of the apparatus made of best wrought iron with a square head to enter into lthe bottom of sounding lead and fastened with an iron key K. It has a projecting ring or wing C2 attached at lower parts of squareend. It has a screw Vat the end to attach a cup F in the form of an inverted hollowcone, also of iron, as at S, Fig. 2. Another screw is cut on the stem c at S2, Fig. 2, for a collar H of iron or brass perforated with small holes to attach a piece of thick buckskinE for the lower or stationary valve which is elevated or depressed by screwing so as to lie just below the upper edge of the cup F when it is put on. See Fig. 2, and ldotted lines representing the position of the cup F and valve E. A sliding valve plays between screw S2 and permanent ring C2 at` lower part of square head for which purpose the shaft is turned smooth and round. This valve consists of 2 leathers D D2 the lower one D2 of very thick buskskin, the upper D of sole or pump leather, cut round and of about the same diameter as lower part of sounding lead; `they are Placed on a flanged hub L, Fig. 5, as a center and together ready to be placed on the stem or v shank and are the first put on for use. This valve slides up and down on the cylindrical part of the stem, rising and resting against the weight as it descends and falling and pressing upon the buckskin E and cup F as it ascends. y

C is the stationary valve of buckskin sewed on to a thin collar as above stated with a screw inside to screw to. shaft or stem at S, No. 2, and is put on after valv D is put on.

F is the hollow cone or cup of iron that screws on the end of shaft or stem and is either made with a point, as represented at Figs. l, 3 and'S, or the stem passes clear through and Vits end is tapered and hardened to form the end of the cup, when it is screwed on so as to penetrate easily. The cup being screwed on after the valvesV are attached to stem, the square end of the machine is entered into a hole in thebottomV of the lead made to receive it and itis keyed through the sides as represented at P of the drawings, Figs. 1, 2, 3. toV make it rm to the lead, permanently Figs. trand 5 represent the two parts of the sliding valve collar or the hub and nut detached, the leather being put on (the buckskin below as before stated) the upper part or nut M, Fig. 4f, is screwed down close upon the hub L. Thsis made of brass or iron or other suitable material. a H, Fig. 6, is a thin brass or iron collar with holes to sew the round piece of buckskin on to form the lower valve and with a screw inside toi-itat S, No. 2, as shown by drawings F igs, l and .Y

Operation: As the weight B descends the resistance of the water will cause the valve D to rise on the cylindrical part of the stem C and rest against the`V under side of y" the large end of the weight and the valve E to fold upward as seen in Fig.,l 2. When iook ing up specimens of the bottom at sea fori() the uses of marine surveying, and naviga,- tion generally, Whether constructed-usherein setforth or in any other Inode substantially the same. 1

HENRY S. STELLWAGEN. Witnesses:

E. Mixmail7 A. E. JOHNSON. 

